Background: Although there have been tremendous efforts and progress in combating the AIDS epidemic in areas of treatment and prevention, it is imperative that we understand the continued critical need for AIDS 101 information. This need became evident through a 1999 community needs assessment in upstate South Carolina.
Methods: In 1999, Fighting AIDS through Community Efforts (FACE), the HIV Prevention Collaboration for the upstate of South Carolina, designed, conducted and analyzed an HIV-related needs assessment of its 4-county service area. Teen and adult survey instruments incorporated HIV-related questions concerning knowledge, awareness of local services, perceptions of community needs, personal risk, and demographics in a convenience sample of 971 persons.
Results: A number of HIV-related myths and misperceptions are still perpetuated within these communities. For example, one-fifth of adults (20%) and more than one-third of teens (36.6%) believed that HIV is spread through blood donation. Additionally, community members inaccurately believe that HIV is spread by mosquitoes (9.2%), and that an HIV vaccine and cure exist (13.8% and 6.2%, respectively). Other misconceptions include location of testing sites, prevalence of HIV within their own communities, and personal risk.
Conclusions: Although we are 19 years into the AIDS epidemic, there is still a critical need for community education with simple, factual messages. Inaccurate information leads to inaccurate perceptions of risk. When individuals perceive they are not at risk, prevention messages will be disregarded and prevention efforts directed toward changing risk-taking behaviors will be defeated.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Identify challenges and barriers to community HIV prevention efforts in upstate South Carolina 2. Discuss the role that knowledge plays in perceptions of HIV risk 3. Identify existing HIV/AIDS misperceptions and myths in upstate South Carolina
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.